Climate secretary urges EU leaders to honour climate change objectives
October 20, 2008
The new energy and climate secretary, Ed Miliband, is urging leaders in Europe to hold fast amidst fears of recession and keep hold of their climate change objectives. He maintains that it is still possible to achieve a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Europe by 2020.
Whilst attending the EU Council of Energy Ministers in preparation for the following EU summit, Mr Miliband also pointed out that achieving EU climate change targets would aid the economy by creating new jobs in green technology. Efficiency measures would also improve energy security he said. The French presidency also supports this view.
It is expected that Mr Miliband will propose the withdrawal of aviation from EU's targets to increase renewable energy sources in all sectors by 20% by 2020. His argument is that, given the only current alternative source of fuel for aircraft is biofuels (which are themselves blamed for causing environmental distruction) it makes no sense to include aviation in the renewable energy targets. That aside, he thinks the climate package should stand.
At the time of going to press, it has emerged that, at the opening of the EU Summit meeting in Brussels, the leaders of the EU's member states have vowed to maintain ambitious targets to tackle climate change, despite the economic crisis.
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